Durban — The discovery of a mortar bomb at a scrapyard in Ottawa, in Verulam, resulted in the evacuation of the premises.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram said that a live mortar bomb was recovered at a scrapyard off Pinewood Road in Ottawa on Thursday morning.
Balram said that Rusa members, the Verulam SAPS and Durban metro police were standing off at the scene by 10.36am.
“It was established that employees made the discovery whilst sifting through a pile of scrap metal that arrived from Ballito - KZN. The premises have been evacuated,” Balram said.
He said that first responders waited for intervention from the SAPS Bomb Disposal Unit.
“The SAPS Bomb Disposal Unit removed the mortar from the premises. The area was declared safe and normal operations have resumed,” Balram said.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said police in Verulam responded to reports of a mortar bomb which was found in a scrapyard.
“The Bomb Disposal Unit of the South African Police Service was summoned to the scene and their assessment confirmed that it was an illuminating mortar bomb, however, the area was declared safe,” Netshiunda said.
“The bomb was seized and will be procedurally subjected to destruction.”
Netshiunda added that no injuries were reported.
Reacting to the incident, Facebook users said:
Siyabonga Godfrey Dlamini said: “Does SAPS have Bomb Unit?”
Michael Cilliers said that the primer looks spent in that picture of the back end.
“Also, live mortars are usually red-tipped. This may have been a practice mortar?”
Shaneil Andhee said: “Verulam in the headlines again.”
Richelle Taylor said: “Wow, one wrong pothole could've made a disaster while in transit.”
Siyabonga Van der Myeni said he wondered how many of the mortar bombs were still around somewhere.
Pari SinSook said: “The North Coast is full of surprises daily. The authorities must make the perpetrator sit on that same bomb and launch him to the moon.. it looks like a rocket. Send him flying.”
Mzway Mkhize said that whoever came with the bomb needed to be questioned.
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